Cerebral Palsy is the term to describe the loss or impairment of motor functions caused by brain damage while a child’s brain is still developing. Lauren Walier, a 15-year-old Milton resident who has the condition, created a benefit event, with the help of friends and family, to raise money and bring awareness to the incurable disability.

“Lemon Aide” for Cerebral Palsy will take place throughout the month of July at The Union Restaurant, 14275 Providence Road in Milton. The Union is kicking off the efforts Friday at 5 p.m. and will be selling fresh lemonade for $3 to raise funds to donate to Reaching for the Stars, A Foundation of Hope for Children with Cerebral Palsy. There will also be adult lemonade with Veev Spirits for $8. Walier was diagnosed with the condition at 18 months old, and mom Sherry Walier said she is inspired by her teenage daughter and all she has accomplished at such a young age.

Mrs. Walier said her daughter’s case is more on the moderate side; therefore she can do some things others may not be able to. “There are varying degrees of CP. Some people with CP will never walk, some will never talk,” Mrs. Wailer said. “Lauren told me she wants to be the voice for those people and she wants to take this campaign national.”

Six years ago the family got involved with the nonprofit organization Reaching for the Stars and four months ago Walier became one of 15 kids in the U.S. and Canada to be an ambassador for CP Kids Coalition, a group within the organization.

As an ambassador, Walier recently held an awareness night event at Chukkar Farm and was able to raise more than $350 for the nonprofit. She hopes to surpass that amount this month.

Walier and her family have also teamed up with J. Christopher’s last month to put on a lemonade stand for two days, raising $1,300.

“When they started talking about their ‘Reaching for the Stars’ mission, you couldn’t help but just want to support them in everything that they are doing,” said Amanda Sedgwick, The Union Restaurant manager. Sedgwick has known the family for about a year and describes Walier as “on fire” with everything she does.

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